Critic Reviews

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83

Game Freaks 365

Make no mistake about it. This game isn't arcade perfect by a long shot. But the Atari 2600 game, even if it isn't the exact same game, still does the name that it was given proud. This game can be replayed to increase one's score, although, of course, the Atari 2600 doesn't save high scores. Still, the game is worth replaying for the Atari gamer just because it's so much fun. I heavily recommend finding this game if you are a fan of the Atari 2600 and don't have it yet.

All in all, however, this isn't a bad translation of an arcade classic. While I wouldn't swap it for my copy of Stargate, I do enjoy firing up this classic from time to time and protecting mankind from aliens up to no good. It sure as heck "feels" similar to the Defender arcade game, and that's good enough for me. This hated title has received a few knocks too many, I think.

If you're a seasoned Defender who can live with the many shortcomings found in the 2600 version, then you may find some enjoyment -- don't bet on it, though. Do yourself a favor and pop in the much better Defender II.

This is the game everybody had but nobody loved. In the arcade, Defender was a huge hit, distinguished by its horizontal scrolling, complicated control scheme, and ultra-high difficulty level. This sloppy Atari 2600 adaptation retains the same basic features, but its graphics and gameplay aren't even in the same ballpark as the original.